Living Cost Compare
Kansas City

Missouri

$1,200/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,200 in Kansas City, MO versus $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,449 in Kansas City, MO and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 7% higher in Kansas City, MO. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Kansas City, MO
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$961
$1,183
+23% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,195
+16% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,211
$1,374
+13% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,381
$1,447
+5% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$227,000
$328,100
+45% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,449
$62,671
+7% in Kansas City, MO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,820
$51,460
+1% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
34.5 yr
+1.2 yr in Kansas City, MO
Homeownership
54.6%
43.5%
+11.1 pp in Kansas City, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
44.1%
+6.3 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
21.9 min
22.1 min
+0.2 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,557.1
349
+78% in Kansas City, MO
Property Crime
4,722.1
3,240.2
+31% in Kansas City, MO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
56.7°F
58.9°F
+2.2°F in Richmond, VA
Annual Precipitation
39.1 in
43.6 in
+4.5 in in Richmond, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Kansas City, MO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — RideKC (KCATA) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.7
17.6
+29% in Richmond, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.13
$23.66
+2% in Kansas City, MO

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Kansas City, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Richmond, VA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Kansas City, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Kansas City, MO
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Kansas City, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — Midwest vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MO / VA)
4.225%
5.3%
+1.1 pp in VA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.70%
5.75%
+1.0 pp in VA

Kansas City vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Kansas City or Richmond?
Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,200 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Kansas City than in Richmond?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Kansas City versus $48,000 in Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Kansas City or Richmond?
Kansas City is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).